Page 122 of The Wrong Monster

“People who know what we do have always been nervous. That’s never stopped them before.”

“Not like this.”

I turn on him. “What are you suggesting?”

“Nothing.”

“Then stop talking.”

Timur sighs. “This is what happens when you’re under investigation.” I glare at him. He lifts both hands. “I’m just saying.” As if I haven’t already heard this.

“No. You’re doing what you always do. You’re pointing out the obvious and pretending you’ve contributed something.”

He mutters something under his breath.

Ariadna watches me for several seconds before saying, “You know what else has changed.”

I look at her, hoping for a spur in momentum…for my team to start strong-arming our way out of this mess, as we always do. Let the lawyers take care of the lawsuit and accusations. We need to show a strong, united front to our clients, both underground and legitimate.

“What?”

“You.”

“Don’t.” The word comes out as a quiet warning, but Ariadna uncrosses her ankles and leans into it.

“Since the lawyer arrived, you’ve been distracted.”

Arthur gives a quiet grunt of agreement. Timur actually smiles, nervously, just a corner of his lips.

“The bitch lawyer is driving you crazy,” he agrees.

The words hit me like a match dropped into gasoline. I nearly tell him to shut his mouth. I nearly climb over the table and wring his neck myself.

What I want to shout, scream into their faces, is that Matilda Pierce is the smartest person out of anyone in this room. That she’s the reason Mikhail hasn’t taken the government’s deal. That she has stood beside me despite every reason to hate me. That she is brave and infuriating and…

Mine.

The thought stops me in my tracks. She isn’t mine, and that’s a dangerous thought.

Not really.

And yet the idea of someone insulting her, even my own brother, makes something vicious rise inside me.

I force my face into something colder, something resembling the man I was when all this started. When I was willing to fuck a stranger in a hotel to take the edge off, to kidnap a woman and force her to work for me, under me.

“She’s doing her job.”

Timur raises an eyebrow. “Sure. Yeah, she is, but don’t you think she’s been a little too involved, brother?”

I ignore him, but I can’t ignore the realization settling heavily in my chest.

I’ve fallen harder for Matty than I ever should have.

And now everyone can see it.

Chapter 33

Matilda